Trustees Shape the Future

From Kenyon News - May 8, 2014

The Kenyon College Board of Trustees faced the future during its April 24-26 meeting in Gambier, discussing a strategic plan and a master plan and taking fresh looks at admissions policies and internal operations.

Steps taken now anticipate a successful bicentennial celebration in 2024, President Sean Decatur told the board in a report on the progress of Kenyon 2020. The strategic plan intends to “articulate clear, strategic priorities that shape our operations and decision-making” for a period of about five years. The plan will establish the groundwork for the next comprehensive campaign, fine tune campus operations, and develop a model for tuition, financial aid strategies, and optimum enrollment.

The front-end, information-collection phase of Kenyon 2020 is well under way, with input in public sessions from about 600 people representing alumni, faculty, friends of the College, parents, and staff. Research will continue through the fall of 2014, with a document in hand by early 2015. The “enduring and essential values” have been made clear, Decatur said, and they start with a rigorous liberal arts education. Sense of community, sense of place, the importance of education beyond the classroom, and diversity also form the bedrock values that determine the direction of the strategic plan.

The long-term sustainability of the College is paramount, and the blueprint for the future will include development of a strong, first-year student experience that concludes with a launch to post-Kenyon success.

“Kenyon is in an enviable position among liberal arts colleges, and our goal is to anticipate, prepare for and secure the future of the College,” said Barry Schwartz ’70, chair of the Board of Trustees. “The analysis and planning we are doing now will benefit our next generations of students.”

In other board action of note:

Graham Gund ’63 H’81, president of the Gund Partnership, provided insights into the ongoing update of the Campus Master Plan of 2004, which is expected to be completed later this year. The focus of the update is on improved student housing, development of a first-year community, and a reinvigorated business center of Gambier. Long-term needs for expanded academic space, including for biology, dance, economics, environmental studies, film, and international studies are also being discussed.

Huron Education, a consulting service with an expertise in higher education, presented an efficiency review aimed at helping the College “promote institutional effectiveness and efficiency.” The report is based on interviews, focus groups, and other data collection. Among other recommendations, Huron Education suggests development of a new compensation strategy and performance-review process; efficiency improvements in finance and auditing; enhanced oversight of summer activities and rentals; and a liability risk-management review.

The board approved renovations for Sparrow House and the Gund Commons Computer Lab. The work at Sparrow House anticipates the move of the Office of Public Affairs to that building after the Health and Counseling Center moves to the new Cox Health and Counseling Center later this year. At Gund Commons, the main-level computer lab will be moved to the lower-level lounge area and what is now computer-lab space will be renovated to suit the staff of the Office of Housing and Residential Life, in turn creating space for the Student Activities Office.

Hardwick-Day, a higher-education enrollment management consulting firm, shared preliminary information based on research into enrollment size, tuition costs and increases, and financial-aid distribution. Hardwick-Day expects to finish its work later this year.

Gina Maisto Smith P’16, an attorney based in Philadelphia with a national practice focused on institutional responses to various aspects of sexual misconduct, discussed sexual misconduct policies and compliance with Title IX of the U.S. Equal Opportunity in Education Act, which bars discrimination on the basis of sex.